Category: Happenings | Page 2

The photograph shows a protest under way against the central government’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, which has been severely criticized as discriminatory and regressive. The protest took place on Parliament Street in Delhi on December 17, 2017, where hundreds of transgender men and women, intersex and gender non-conforming people and their allies came together from across India. In the photograph, an activist can be seen speaking on a dais, with several other people standing close to her with posters that say “Liberation” and “Stop TG Bill 2016”. A few individuals are seated on the dais. Behind the dais there is a large banner titled ‘All India Transgender Aur Intersex Pratirodh’ in Hindi. It provides details of why the proposed legislation should be opposed. In the background, to the right side, a number of trees are visible with the morning sunlight filtering through. Photo credit: Ajita Banerjie

Happenings

Dec '17

In rage, and in hope, we fight

By Ajita Banerjie

Delhi witnesses a collective voice of dissent against the central government’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016. Ajita Banerjie reports Delhi, December 17, 2017: “Reservations nahin diye, aur rozi roti bhi...

This is a graphic designed for the ongoing campaign against the Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016. The text says “Stop the Transgender Bill” in a bold typeface and large point size. To the left of the text is a layered illustration that shows a clenched fist in the background. An open palm is placed on the fist, with many more hands and forearms visible inside the open palm – all symbolizing a demand for protection and promotion of transgender and intersex rights. The dominant colour theme in the graphic is red, black and white. The numerous hands and forearms are in multiple colours juxtaposed on the black colour of the open palm. The clenched fist is in orange tinged red, while the text is in mainly white on a background of red and black. Artwork credit: Siddhartha Sankar

Happenings

Dec '17

‘Transgender Day of Rage’ to mark Kolkata pride

By Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival, Siddhartha Sankar

The 16th edition of the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ is planned for December 10, 2017. The walk will be preceded by a protest against the discriminatory Transgender Person (Protection of...

This graphic shows a pair of scales with the left scale weighed down. The balance beam, tilted to the left, along with the central vertical stand, appears like a giant ‘T’ (as the first letter of ‘transgender’). A circle placed right at the centre of the balance beam just above the central stand can be visualized as a human face and makes the entire pair of scales look like a person with their arms stretched out, with one side weighed down. Just above the left scale is a thought cloud with text that says “Human Rights Violations”; a similar thought cloud below the right scale says “Court Verdicts, Boards, Bills . . .” The sense conveyed is that human rights violations are weighing down transgender people’s lives despite progressive court verdicts, legislations and welfare bodies for transgender communities in India. The pair of scales is shown inside a frame that implies confinement or lack of freedom. The entire graphic consisting of the scales, thought clouds and frame is itself placed inside another cloud shaped figure. The graphic colour scheme – a mix of deep blue for the scales, black for the text, and light and deep shades of grey interspersed with white for the other elements and the background – conveys a negative mood but not complete doom. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall (graphic based on Clip Art by Microsoft Office).

Happenings

Nov '17

Voicing out stasis in transgender lives

By Pawan Dhall

A trans* community hearing organized last week in Kolkata captured numerous grievances and complaints of government inaction across West Bengal. Pawan Dhall reports Kolkata, November 5, 2017: A comprehensive transgender policy...

The photograph shows a panel discussion in progress at the launch of a set of five standards to support corporate bodies in preventing discrimination against queer people in the workplace and beyond. The standards have been developed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The event took place at the Godrej global headquarters in Mumbai on October 12, 2017. The document on the standards was titled ‘Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, & Intersex People: Standards of Conduct for Business’, and was launched by Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The panel discussion preceded the launch and featured Radhika Piramal, Managing Director, VIP Industries Limited; Nandita Das, Actor and Filmmaker; Gauri Sawant, Transgender Activist; Meenakshi Ganguly, Director South Asia, Human Rights Watch; and Keshav Suri, Executive Director, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The panel was moderated by Salil Tripathi, Senior Adviser, Global Issues, Institute for Human Rights and Business, London. Photo courtesy: Communication Design Team, GCPL.

Happenings

Oct '17

Queer inclusion: Business not as usual

By Pawan Dhall

The business world in India has an opportunity to adopt a benchmark to prevent discrimination against queer people in the workplace and beyond. Pawan Dhall reports on the launch of...

This main photograph shows an event organized by the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) just outside the South City Mall in Kolkata on Rakshan Bandhan day this year (August 7, 2017). On a table several friendship bands made of colourful beads and some 'rakhis' are on display. To the left of the table is a disabled child seated on a wheel chair. An IICP volunteer is next to him, and helps him tie a 'rakhi' to a man (presumably a transport worker) standing to the right of the table. All three individuals are smiling. In the background more children with disabilities can be seen seated on wheel chairs, some with their guardians or companions. Other people can also be seen in the background, as also the pavement railings outside the mall, Kolkata Traffic Police signboards, some hoardings, a white car and a few buildings in the distance. Photo credit: Jeeja Ghosh Nag

Happenings

Aug '17

‘Rakhi’ for a bus ride, when the law comes untied

By Shampa Sengupta

Shampa Sengupta on the rakhi as a means of sensitizing public transport workers to the concerns of persons with disabilities in Kolkata Rabindranath Tagore taught Bengal how to use the rakhi as a...

This artwork shows the poster of the 4th birthday event of ‘Varta’ webzine to be held on August 5, 2017 at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale’s premises on Park Street in Kolkata. The foundation day falls on August 1. The poster headline says: “Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion”. Next to it is the graphic of a handheld loudspeaker. The text of the poster says: “How has the media helped the queer movements in India? Or has it created more barriers for them? What if it has done both? Why did queer movements feel the urge to create their own media content? What are those histories? Come and explore these questions and more with a panel discussion and also celebrate ‘Varta’ webzine’s 4th birthday! Varta is a forum for publishing and advocacy work around gender and sexuality, in particular queer issues. Panellists: Soumitra Das, senior journalist who writes on culture and heritage; Dr. Subhagata Ghosh, founding member of Sappho and Sappho for Equality, and Editor, ‘Swakanthe’ (In Her Own Voice); Sukhdeep Singh, Editor, ‘Gaylaxy Magazine’; Sanjoy Kr. Gayen, Editor, ‘Dream News’; and Pawan Dhall, founding member and Editor, ‘Varta’. Date: August 5, 2017. Time: 7:30 pm onwards. Venue: Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Park Mansion, 57A, Kolkata 700 016. Light refreshments will be served post discussion.” The visual in the background over which the text is printed shows a newspaper clipping from an article titled ‘Sad to Be Gay’ published in ‘The Statesman’ in the early 1990s. A sketch of two women holding hands and sitting close to each other can be seen in the article, but the text is faded out. The article was sourced from the Counsel Club Archives maintained by Varta Trust. At the bottom of the poster are the logos of the event organizers – Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Varta Trust, Kinky Collective and Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival. Artwork credit: Alliance Francaise du Bengale.

Happenings

Aug '17

‘Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion’

By Sayan Bhattacharya

Sayan Bhattacharya will anchor Varta webzine’s fourth birthday event at Alliance Francaise du Bengale on August 5, 2017, 7.30 pm onwards Varta webzine completes four years on August 1. The path was...

This photograph shows a copy of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 lying in the foreground on a table. The name of the Act can be read on the cover, yellow in colour. In the background, the meeting room can be seen. To the left there are three people seated on chairs and engaged in a discussion; further beyond to the right is a person slightly bent over a table, writing something; and to his left are the two speakers of the meeting Dr. Rukmini Sen (Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University Delhi) and Shampa Sengupta (founder of Sruti Disability Rights Centre) – they are seated behind a long table meant for presenters and are facing the rest of the room. Behind them a white screen can be seen. The photograph is taken such that there is a sharp focus on the copy of the Act, while the rest of the photograph is relatively diffused. Photo credit: Abhirupa Kar

Happenings

Jun '17

Community review of new disability rights law

By Ishan Chakraborty

Ishan Chakraborty reports on a recent meeting held in Kolkata to analyse the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act which was passed in December last year

Happenings

May '17

Special Olympics: More than about sporting rivalry

By Shampa Sengupta

The Olympic Games are common knowledge. Even the Paralympics have begun to gain attention. But not many have heard of the Special Olympics – a sports-based movement of people with...

This first (main) photograph shows the book launch ceremony during the event ‘Books, Films and IDAHOBIT 2017’ organized at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale Park Street centre in Kolkata on May 4, 2017. Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, Pawan Dhall and Stephane Amalir (standing from left to right) can be seen holding the two books launched, smiling and facing the cameras in the audience. The books launched were ‘Digital Queer Cultures in India – Politics, Intimacies and Belonging’ and ‘Social Media, Sexuality and Sexual Health Advocacy in Kolkata, India’. The first was authored by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, Lecturer in Media and Creative Industries at Loughborough University, UK. The second was co-authored by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta and Pawan Dhall, queer activist and Founding Trustee, Varta Trust. Stephane Amalir is Director, Alliance Francaise du Bengale. In the background is a screen projection of a graphic highlighting the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Photo credit: Arunabha Hazra

Happenings

May '17

Digital media, queer lives and ‘Indian-ness’

By Kaustav Manna, Arunabha Hazra

Two books on the relationship between digital media and queer lives were launched recently in Kolkata. The event was part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia observations....

The photograph shows a close-up shot of the hands of two young children with autism. One of them is playing a rattle, the other a tambourine. The children are sitting cross-legged on the floor, and there are other children around them. We can’t see the faces of the children as the focus is on their activities. The photograph was taken during an event organized on April 3, 2017 in Kolkata to mark Autism Awareness Day (which was on April 2). The event consisted of poetry recitals, songs, music, dance and storytelling involving a number of children with autism, their parents, guardians and caregivers. The event was organized by Transcendent Knowledge Society, an NGO that runs Wonder House, a day-care centre for children with autism in the Tollygunge area of Kolkata. Photo courtesy Transcendent Knowledge Society

Happenings

Apr '17

Autism eye-opener

By Aparajita Dutta

Aparajita Dutta was bowled over by the vibrancy at an event organized to mark Autism Awareness Day in Kolkata recently

Quote: Government of India questioned on glaring absence of rules to ensure education, social security, health, rehabilitation and recreation for persons with disabilities!

Mar '17

Discord on rules for Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

By Disability rights organizations in India

Excerpts from a letter sent to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment by the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled Delhi, March 25, 2017: The National Platform for...

Happenings

Mar '17

(Un)equal before the law?

By Danish Sheikh

Danish Sheikh on the launch of a report on obstacles to justice faced by queer people in India Delhi, February 24, 2017: The International Commission of Jurists today launched a report titled “Unnatural Offences”...

Word cloud in the shape of a ‘yes’ tick mark on the theme of transgender socio-economic inclusion – it includes words like ‘transgender’, ‘trans*’, ‘gender’, ‘woman’, ‘man’, ‘genderqueer’, ‘fluid’, ‘equity’, ‘economic’, ‘inclusion’, ‘court’ and ‘verdict’. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

Happenings

Mar '17

Government banks can’t write off trans inclusion!

By Pawan Dhall

State Bank of India told to include ‘transgender’ option in its examination forms. Kolkata, March 16, 2017: After the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) in December last year, today the...

Happenings

Dec '16

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is a reality!

By Disability rights organizations in India

Persons with disabilities in India and organizations fighting to uphold their rights have gained a new legal recourse for equity and justice. Excerpts from a media release issued by All...

Happenings

Dec '16

Small step, big victory!

By Pawan Dhall

The West Bengal Administrative Tribunal directs WBPSC to include 'transgender' in its forms. Kolkata, December 5, 2016: Transgender rights received a strong morale booster in West Bengal today! Atri Kar, a...

Happenings

Kolkata pride calls for laws that respect human rights

By Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival

The 15th edition of the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ is planned for December 11, 2016 – exactly three years since the infamous Supreme Court of India verdict on Section 377,...

Tagged Under: Happenings

In rage, and in hope, we fight

‘Transgender Day of Rage’ to mark Kolkata pride

Voicing out stasis in transgender lives

Queer inclusion: Business not as usual

‘Rakhi’ for a bus ride, when the law comes untied

‘Queer Lives of the Media: A Panel Discussion’

Community review of new disability rights law

Special Olympics: More than about sporting rivalry

Digital media, queer lives and ‘Indian-ness’

Autism eye-opener

Discord on rules for Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

(Un)equal before the law?

Government banks can’t write off trans inclusion!

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 is a reality!

Small step, big victory!

Kolkata pride calls for laws that respect human rights

Queer Friendly Health and Legal Services

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